People shame Pink and Carey Hart over their son’s hand, foot and mouth disease

Carey Hart is on tour with wife Pink, the pair sharing the work/life balance struggle of travelling with kids on their respective Instagram accounts. While it was Pink who was gravely ill a week or two ago, it’s now her kiddos – almost 2-year-old Jameson and 7-year-old Willow – that are under the weather.

“I told her it was bed bugs”

“Wanna know how glamorous tour can be? Jameson has hand, foot, and mouth; and willow has a 102 temp. Both kids laid up and mama Pink still has to push through and do shows,” Carey captioned a couple of shots of his very peaky kids.

“I had Jameson at breakfast yesterday,” he elaborated “and this vile woman at the table next to us kept staring at him with a s—y look on her face. I told her it was bed bugs. #NoRestForTheWicked#LifeInHotels”

“You’re either self-centred or an idiot”

In comments on Instagram, a few followers were quick to back the woman up and share their own concerns, noting that Jameson should be isolated and is probably infectious.

“If anyone is vile it’s the parent taking their sick kid out. Also there’s a big diff between running out to get meds when you’re sick and sitting in a restaurant having a meal.” And “you exposed children and adults to HF&M? I would be giving you looks, too. You’re either self centered or an idiot. Which is it?” summed up the basic tone.

Others still suggested the pair hire a nanny, not tour with their kids … and a bunch of other stuff that’s none of their beeswax.

While the intent and delivery leaves a lot to be desired, the basic concern is legitimate.

“Children with hand, foot and mouth disease should be excluded from school or childcare facilities until their blisters have dried-up, and any rash (if present) has gone and any fever has settled,” the NSW Government website confirms, also noting that “the fluid within them is infectious.”

Hand, foot and mouth is spread via faecal matter, by secretions from the mouth or respiratory system, and by direct contact with the fluid from blisters. It’s a very common disease most often seen in children and is characterised by painful blisters on the face, hands, feet, in the mouth and around the nappy area.

Sympathy not shaming

The experts tell us that hand, foot and mouth can be spread while the rash is present, but Carey’s followers overwhelmingly felt that he needed support and sympathy, not criticism.

And honestly? That’s an understandable response, especially since this family has had a run of bad luck health wise and were just trying to escape the confines of their hotel room and have some freaking breakfast.

Here’s hoping that Jameson – and Willow – are on the mend ASAP and that people rethink the public shaming.

Maybe send a polite private message if you’d like to alert another parent to potential hazards? That’d be better.